Maltese urged to sign Lockerbie petition
Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi is suffering from terminal cancer. Photo: AFP
The organisers of a petition seeking to overturn a verdict against the man convicted of the Lockerbie bombing have appealed to the Maltese to support a bid to prove his innocence and clear Malta’s link to the disaster.
The petition calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish government to open an inde-pendent inquiry into the 2001 conviction of Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi for the bombing of a Pan Am aircraft in December 1988.
The petition is steered by Justice For Megrahi (JFM), an organisation which includes a number of British victims’ relatives, and individuals like world-renowned philosopher Noam Chomsky and South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Mr Al-Megrahi’s decision to drop his appeal in order to return to Libya after he was released on compassionate grounds in August 2009 means there is currently no means in Scotland by which the verdict may be re-examined.
JFM believes it could convince the authorities to re-examine what it calls one of the biggest miscarriages of justice to associate Libya with one of the worst terrorist attacks. The Pan Am 747 was bound for New York when it exploded over Lockerbie in Scotland, killing all 259 people on board and 11 on the ground.
Mr Al-Megrahi was convicted after Maltese shopkeeper Tony Gauci claimed the Libyan had bought the clothes used to conceal the bomb.
The Libyan was then accused of managing to elude security at Luqa airport by loading the suitcase containing a bomb unaccompanied on an Air Malta flight to Frankfurt, whereupon it was transferred, again unaccompanied, to a further flight to London. At Heathrow, it was finally loaded on to the target aircraft.
Jim Swire, whose daughter Flora was killed in the bombing, appealed to the Maltese to support the call for an independent inquiry.
“There are serious doubts about the verdict and there are very serious doubts on the evidence given by Tony Gauci, who we now know was rewarded for his testimony,” he told The Sunday Times.
Those who studied the evidence know the atrocity was not caused by some device which originated from Malta and there is clear evidence that Mr Al-Megrahi never bought the clothing from the (Sliema) shop, Dr Swire said.
JHM representative Robert Forrester insisted that in the hope that Mr Gauci could identify the purchaser of the clothing from his shop, investigators had repeatedly shown him spreads of pictures of Mr Al-Megrahi.
Mr Forrester said evidence which emerged later showed that Mr Gauci and his brother were given money through the US Rewards for Justice Programme arrangement.
“Mr Al-Megrahi’s case should be referred back to the Court of Appeal, on no fewer than six grounds, in part due to the testimony of Mr Gauci.”
Furthermore, there is also the issue of the respective security regimes at Luqa, Frankfurt and Heathrow. Before the trial, the regimes of all three airports were expertly assessed – with Luqa coming out on top.
In addition, 18 hours before the Pam Am aircraft’s departure, someone broke into Heathrow airside giving access to the area in the vicinity of the Pan Am shed.
This information was known to the UK authorities well in advance of the trial but was not made public until after the verdict was announced.
While the JFM campaign acts to see Mr Al-Megrahi’s name cleared of the crime, it is also committed to seeing both the reputation of the Scottish criminal justice system and the good name of Malta restored, Mr Forrester said.
“Both Malta and Scotland are victims of what is tantamount to a criminal injustice by this verdict. This is an issue that goes beyond our obvious sympathy for Mr Al-Megrahi.
“The Maltese people won the George Cross for their extraordinary bravery during adversity of the Second World War, only to see their name tainted by what occurred at Camp Zeist – this is a gross and unconscionable insult.
“Ask yourself this. What would you do if you wanted to place a bomb on a plane departing from Heathrow? Place it, unaccom-panied, on a flight leaving Malta for Frankfurt to eventually be transferred to London in the hope that it would evade the security at three airports, or would you opt for the more obvious and more likely to succeed choice of simply singling out Heathrow?
“The three judges, who were also the jury, clearly preferred the more fantastical solution.”
The petition ( available on http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/list_petitions.asp ) will run until October 28.
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31 Comments
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Dr Jimk Swire
Oct 11th 2010, 11:20
Those wishing to sign the petition can use either of these two methods:
e-access to the petition is at:
http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/list_petitions.asp
Alternatively signing can be done by text thus:-
text '417' and your name to 07537 400395 to add your e-signature.
Texts are charged at your standard network rate.
Text signatures will not appear instantly.
UK prefix may be needed before 075 number
Anthony Farrugia
Oct 11th 2010, 11:12
If you believe that Malta was involved through a red herring so that the Hague court would believe the Gauci brothers that the clothes were bought in Malta and that the suitcase was loaded on the aircraft at MIA and not in Frankfurt or at Heathrow where a breakin in a secure baggage holding area 24 hours before the Lockerbie flight was not even taken into consideration, then sign the petition to clear Malta's name on the link below.
http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/list_petitions.asp
albert leone ganado
Oct 11th 2010, 10:25
I signed the petition to the Scottish Parliament because i cannot believe that such a sophisticated terrorist operation could ever have been managed by a relatively low level manager in a small Libyan airline office in Malta. Such an operation would require a highly trained terrorist organisation or the secret services of much larger east or middle east countries bent on revenge. The rationale of anyone planning a successful terrorist attempt of this type deciding on starting such an operation from Malta is so totally irrational that it beggars belief. My take is that the secret services of the major powers know much more than they are willing to reveal and were simply seeking closure of the incident. Christ was betrayed for 30 pieces so paying millions to witnesses does find dubious evidence needed for judicial closure. I suspect that if the countries involved had to be revealed the USA would have no option because of justified outrage that would ensue but to go to war with eventual disastrous consequences to the whole world . Better to find scapegoats in such a situation other than of course for the innocent scapegoat himself
Peter Sullivan
Oct 11th 2010, 09:45
Dr. Jim Swire, who is leading this petition for Justice, is the father of a victim of the Lockerbie bombing. he is privvy to a lot of information and documentation that we are not, and therefore I believe him.
I too am convinced that Al Megrahi is a scapegoat and an injustice has been done, so I have signed the petition and suggest that others do the same. After all there is nothing to lose here, only to gain the truth, if not already known, which can be brought to the surface.
Even if there a slight possibility that Al Megrahi is innocent (and a lot of people think he is), then to ensure that an injustice is not committed the enquiry MUST be opened. Let justice be served!
Bruce Boyle
Oct 11th 2010, 08:21
What does this have to do with the Maltese people? As always it's the politicians and the money spinners that are responsible. A few names on a piece of paper will make no difference at all, Malta will never be remembered for their "Remote" involvement in this case. I lived some 100 miles from Lockerbie and on the night and I've gotten over it!
Martin Cassar
Oct 10th 2010, 17:16
In separate news I read…..“However, Mr Forrester expressed concern about possible US pressure on Malta not to investigate Mr. Gauci.”
We need to know who are behind this first class terrorism.
Why should the USA pressure Malta [NOT TO] investigate Mr. Gauci?
Perhaps the USA trying to cover up any possible connection with the CIA, FBI with the collaboration with Israeli Mossad?
In real democracy an independent investigations must be carried out so Malta’s name is cleared.
But again, remarkable accidents and human tragedies such as Lockerbie or 9/11 requires long time until the truth is revealed. However this routinely happens after the accidents in question is completely forgotten and peoples lose zeal to know the real culprits. How many common peoples are there today still interested to know who killed Kennedy or why he was killed?
The culprits are the beneficiaries,so says my logic.
Can anybody see the connection between this ‘fabricated case’ and Libya’s recent request of 5 Billions euros to stop illegal immigrants to Europe?
I guess the Colonel of Libya getting back the 2.7$ Billions he paid to the USA, and yes with much higher interests.
T Camilleri
Oct 10th 2010, 21:58
Martin Cassar you are right Martin. The USA has a BIG finger in the pie. How can anyone explain that CIA agents were on the scene of the disaster within minutes? Ever heard of a false flag operation? Moreover, an explosive expert/s have concluded that the cassette in which the bomb was allegedly in could not contain enough explosive to blow down the plane. Furthermore, can anyone imagine how a piece of printed circuit boars allegedly from the timer and clothes would survive and not be burned to a cinder having been in contact with the explosive when the explosion would cause temperatures of thousands of degrees celsius? This is simply a frame-up by the CIA for which they are well-known to frame Libya and Malta for not obeying their orders and kicking them out of Libya and Malta for not allowing their sixth fleet to use Malta as a public convenience for their sailors and marines.
Michael Mifsud
Oct 10th 2010, 15:28
@G.Attard
Thanks God this Mr Attard is not a judge. If he were one, most probably he would send innocent people in jail ! Let's proper justice be made and if he is not the culprit it is important that his name would be cleared. Let's hope that justice would really be done !
J Farrugia
Oct 10th 2010, 15:25
I am convinced that Al Megrahi is a scapegoat and an injustice has been done. but I will never sign this petition.
Steve Borg
Oct 10th 2010, 16:48
And why won't you sign the petition if you think it was a miscarriage of justice? Why do we fear to challenge authority if there is evidence which came out after the verdict which proves it was wrong in the first place?
R.Abela
Oct 10th 2010, 15:08
The bomb was made in a way that when certain amount of high altidude is reached by an airplane, a switch comes in contact and the Bomb is activated. So how it is this not happened from Malta to Frankfurt via Heathrow? So the only option remained is the Bomb was loaded from Heathrow or that certain amount was not reached from Malta>Frankfurt>Heathrow but was reached on Lokerbie. A big mystery.
C Galea
Oct 10th 2010, 14:32
Nobody will ever get to know or be told the GENUINE truth so why should anybody be asked to do this? KINDLY DO NOT DO THIS AS YOU MAYBE BE MISLEAD
Joseph Stafrace
Oct 10th 2010, 14:25
@J. Brincat We should all sign it because this so called trial has put Malta in the limelight for the wrong reason. To add insult to injury a film about the Lockerbie tragedy was also partly filmed in Malta! We have to bring back our credibility as a peaceful nation.
John Portelli
Oct 10th 2010, 14:01
What petition...........Let criminals be criminals. this is insane.
Joe Morana
Oct 10th 2010, 13:56
“The Maltese people won the George Cross for their extraordinary bravery during adversity...... only to see their name tainted by what occurred at Camp Zeist – this is a gross and unconscionable insult." What a bunch of hogwash! The gross and unconscious insult was perpetrated by the convicted bomber. He abused his Malta airport privileges, and thus Maltese hospitality. If he (or anyone else) wishes to prove this man's innocence let hem come forward with witnesses and proof that he was set-up! And what does all this say for the Scottish justice system? It is bad enough Scotland had egg all over its face for falling for 'the incurable desease' ruse!
CH PARNIS
Oct 10th 2010, 13:48
Since Dr Swire is so convinced of Mr Al Megrahi and Libya being innocent of the airline tragedy , maybe h e could tell us if he ever took his share of the compensation offered by Libya If yes for me it means that he is a hypocrite taking money from someone you beleive is innocent
Anthony Farrugia
Oct 11th 2010, 11:22
On the other hand, we could ask the Gauci brothers to tell us what compensation they received from the US Department of Justice for testifying at the Hague ?
David Scerri
Oct 10th 2010, 13:39
only the people who caused the plane to crash know the truth, malta has been rubbing shoulders with libya long enough, my advice do not sign this petition, 259 innocent people died, let them rest in peace.
T Camilleri
Oct 10th 2010, 22:01
David Scerri wrong advise scerri. Everyone should sign it to clear Malta's name. The bomb was put on board in the UK and not in Malta. Do your research and you will know.
J Brincat
Oct 10th 2010, 12:40
And I say why should we get involved.
G.Schembri
Oct 10th 2010, 13:40
We have been involved, since Mr Gauci for reasons known only to himself identified the clothing as bought from his shop. I wonder what clothing this was since as far as I know Mr Gauci does not sell designers clothes, but very ordinary clothes which one can buy fom any other clothes shop on the island. I wonder how such a man can under oath say that such a shirt was bought by a certain Arab from his shop and not by some other person from another shop or from some open market.
If Megrahi was famed so was Malta, if Megrahi is proved innocent Malta will be cleared, so I will sigtn the petition not for Megrahi's sake but for Malta's sake. Let Justice take prevail.
David Buttigieg
Oct 10th 2010, 13:47
I don't know - maybe because it should be every person of goodwill's duty to ensure justice prevails?
G. Attard
Oct 10th 2010, 12:23
I'm sure Abdelbaset Al-Megrahi has cancer. It is all just a conspiracy to say he does. He is terminally ill and doctors say he'd be dead within 90 days of being released, a year later he's still alive. After a year, he looks the same as he did when released, now correct me if I'm wrong, wouldn't someone suffering from an advaced stage of cancer look sick? I'm signing this petition. Let him get thrown back in jail where he belongs so families of the tragedy can finally get closure! Let him rot in prison.
C Fenech
Oct 10th 2010, 13:32
@ G.Attard
your reply just goes to show how blinded you are by racism (hopefully not ignorance). The petition is there for exactly the OPPOSITE reason ... that of clearing Al-Megrahi and Malta in the Lockerbie case ... and not to re-open the case and "let him rot in prison" ... the guy has suffered enough injustice thanks to the false testimony of a maltese person who is now living the life thanks to the large sum of money the Americans gave him for lying ....
Joseph Schembri
Oct 10th 2010, 14:40
I find comments such as yours despicable. To you justice is to make one person or party suffer so tht others who feel wronged feel better. To me justice should be about restitution.
wally vella-zarb
Oct 10th 2010, 15:05
"Let him get thrown back in jail where he belongs so families of the tragedy can finally get closure!"
What you seem to be forgetting is the fact that the people behind this petition are themselves "families of the tragedy", among them Dr Jim Swire who lost a daughter in the crash. He, together with most of the BRITISH families - not to mention prominent members of the British Judiciary - are not convinced of Megrahi's involvement. They hold that the entire trial was a farce, a miscarriage of justice, that included the questionable (to put it very mildly) Gauci testimony, the attempt to implicate Air Malta and the security at Luqa, the undisclosed break-in at Heathrow airside, and many other factors. Megrahi's release 'on compassionate grounds' effectively prevented a re-trial that would have exposed the fabrications that went on under the guise of a trial.
It is in OUR interest, as Maltese Citizens, to assist in what would clear the name of our Country and that of our National Carrier from the smear campaign that was instigated by the people who paid Gauci for his 'testimony'.
Joe Cassar
Oct 10th 2010, 15:34
We HAVE been involved, whether we like it or not, when it was alleged that the bomb was loaded in Malta.
This is our last chance to get at the truth and clear Malta's name.
Joe Cassar
Oct 10th 2010, 15:37
You seem to have misunderstood, Mr Attard. The promoters of this petition believe that Al-Megrahi and Libya had nothing to do with the bomb and believe that the inquiry will prove it.
Thanks for your signature, anyway.
Steve Borg
Oct 10th 2010, 15:57
Typical posting from someone who comments before he reads... Al Megrahi is the victim or a cruel miscarriage of justice, a system that wanted to nail the 'enemy' at the time. Why did you sign the petition if you think he's guilty? Dont you realise this picture was taken when he was released? Didn't you read the way he was framed up?
R.Abela
Oct 10th 2010, 18:17
It`s better for hundred criminals running on the loose then one innocent behind bars.
Ramon Casha
Oct 10th 2010, 10:38
The link in the article does not work (it includes the last bracket). The correct one is:
http://epetitions.scottish.parliament.uk/list_petitions.asp